On Tuesday, August 9, about 9:15 PM, a large fire erupted at EQ Resource Recovery Inc., a licensed hazardous waste facility located at 36345 Van Born Road in Romulus, Michigan (Latitude 42.1581 & Longitude -83.2388). The Incident Command and the EPA Command Post are now located at the EQ Facility on Van Born Avenue. The facility has approximately thirty-nine (39) above-ground storage tanks ranging in sizes up to 15,000 gallons, of which twenty-nine (29) were impacted by the fire/explosion. In addition, a propylene glycol re-boiler and a drum pad with overhead canopy and approximately four-hundred (400) drums of various products were destroyed. Multiple fire departments with more than one-hundred (100) firefighters responded, with Incident Command (IC) established by the Romulus Fire Chief. Due to the intensity of the fire and the nature of the material involved, approximately twelve-hundred (1,200) homes, as well as GM and Ford Motor Company manufacturing facilities, were evacuated in the Cities of Romulus and Wayne. Shelters were set up at the two Romulus area high schools and a church hall.
Preliminary air samples collected in the fire smoke plume and analyzed by the EPA-ERT TAGA unit did not show elevated levels of hazardous materials, as determined by ATSDR, Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), and the Wayne County Health Department (WCHD). In addition, six wipe samples were collected and sent to the EPA-ERT laboratory and analyzed for base/neutral/acid compounds (BNAs). After reviewing the analytical results from the first six wipe samples collected, the health agencies determined that the chemical concentrations were below health concern levels, and the residents were allowed to return to their homes. Continuous air monitoring of the perimeter of the facility and in the neighborhood downwind of the facility was conducted utilizing Area Raes, which were monitoring for VOCs, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxygen and lower explosive limit. U.S. EPA START and REAC contractors continued investigating the residential area impacted by the plume by collecting four wipe samples from twenty residential properties, two from the upwind and downwind side facing the fire. The EPA-ERT laboratory analyzed the wipe forty samples (with additional samples for field and laboratory blanks) for BNAs and metals. Laboratory results were shared with the health agencies, which then made recommendations on how the residents could cleanup fire debris from their lawns and pools.
On Aug 23, 2005, EQ’s contractor began emptying liquid from tank A (t-butyl amine, xylene, acetone, and used oil) into a vacuum truck. USCG-AST continued reviewing Site Work Plans and the Health and Safety Plan.
On August 24, 2005, EQ’s contractor removed approximately 4,500 gallons of liquid from tank 2 (n-butyl acetate) into a tanker truck for disposal. The contractor conducted an assessment of several additional tanks.
On August 25, 2005, EQ’s contractor completed pumping out the contents of tanks 8 (n-butyl acetate and MIBK) and B (fuel)for disposal and began emptying tank F (decalin).
On August 26, 2005, EQ’s contractor completed emptying the contents of tanks F, 1 (xylene and MIBK), 10 (xylene), and 11 (still bottoms).
On August 27, 2005, EQ’s contractor completed pumping the contents of the DES tank (clean solvents: xylene, toluene, and acetone) and transferred it to a fractionation tank located on-site. The contractor utilized a crane to assess the remaining contents of the tanks. Approximately 1-2 feet of product remained in the tanks. A meeting was held on-site and the IC determined that the site was safe and ready for the fire investigation to begin. The USCG-AST demobilized from site.
On August 29, 2005, the Romulus Fire Department conducted the fire investigation.
On August 30, 2005, EQ’s contractor began opening tank man ways to assess and dispose of any materials remaining in the tanks. An assessment of the drum pad was initiated, and rain water was vacuumed from the drum pad.
1. Continue EPA Oversight of the Removal Action.
Conduct oversight and documentation of clean up activities.
EPA is continuing to work on an AOC with EQ.
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